The History of the Veteran Car Club of Australia (Victoria)
In January 1955, Bernard Cox was searching for an idea on which to base an appeal for funds for the South Melbourne Community Chest, and he contacted veteran car enthusiasts Ken Smyth, Theo van Alkemade and John Williams. With publicity assistance from the Melbourne Argus newspaper, the first major postwar veteran car rally was held on January 31, 1955. Thirty eight veteran cars started from the South Melbourne Town Hall on a 15 mile route to the delight of an estimated 100,000 people who were lining the streets to see the spectacle.
The interest was such that steps were taken to form a veteran car club and on June 27. 1955 a public meeting was held at the South Melbourne Town Hall. The Club was duly established on July 6, 1955.
This book, a production of the Club outlines the origins and development of the Club and the extraordinary stories of the members, vehicles - and wonderful events that have been a feature of it since that time.
